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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
First Years (0-2)
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It’s 2 a.m. and little Mikey is standing next to the bed talking to his sound-asleep mom. When she awakes with a start, he tells her that he wants his friend Justin to come over and play. As they return to his room, mom discovers a floor scattered with books and toys. Relieved that he didn’t disturb his sister too, she tucks him in his bed and shuffles back to her own room. At least tonight he wasn’t hungry, she thinks to herself. When Mikey turned 2 last month, he got a brand-new big boy bed, and he hasn’t slept through the night ever since. There is no magic number when it comes to moving your child from the confines of a familiar crib to the freedom of a big bed. Although some pediatricians may suggest you try it when your child turns 2, or when the crib railing is below chest level, this transition should not always be dictated by height, age, or even the addition of a new sibling. Concerns about a baby’s safety, if he is a climber, are certainly valid, but there are even other ways to deal with that besides moving them. In fact, as we get ready for our third child to make his big move, I’m paying more attention to his readiness, his self-control, and his potty training progress than his size or his age. He’s well past 2 years old and still happy to be in his crib, and I’m thankful for the full night’s sleep I’ve once again grown used to. Having tried two different tactics with my older children, and picked up a few tips from professionals while writing this column, I’ve put together a list of my top three tips for parents who are facing this next step in their child’s life. Control the climbing If you have a child who likes to climb, you may think it’s time to pull out the toolbox and start taking that crib apart. Don’t. I’ve discovered a technique that helps many parents put an end to climbing out of the crib, although it does take a big commitment from parents. Dr. Jodi Mindell, author of “Sleeping Through the Night” (HarperCollins 1997), advised me that if you have a climber, when you put him down for a nap, stay outside the room and listen. When you hear him climb out, go in the room, pick him up, and put him right back in the crib. After you do that, don’t walk away just yet. In fact, be prepared to do it another 10 to 15 times. It’s a “battle” that she says parents must win, and when they do, climbing is no longer the only reason to move a child into a bed. I have personally found this tactic to be very effective. Once I even caught my son climbing back into his crib after he retrieved a favorite stuffed animal. I knew he could climb out. He knew he could climb out. But he got the message that when he was in the crib, it was time to sleep the same message he carried with him to his big bed. Safety first Like Mikey, some children suddenly become midnight prowlers when they discover the new freedom a bed offers. In our case, it was an early morning riser. Our daughter suddenly began waking up at 5 a.m. when she moved into a bed, despite a history of sleeping late. To prevent her from wandering around the house unsupervised, we put a grip on the round door handle on the inside of her room. I’ve been told that reversing lever handles, (so that you lift up, rather than push down) also makes it impossible for a small child to open doors. A third option is to put a baby gate, or even two one on top of another to prevent a child from leaving the room when everyone else is still sleeping. At least that way, if your child wakes you up in the night, you’ll know where he is. Double duty At our house, we have the same discussion with our 2-year-old every day. We talk about the special privileges big boys have, like sleeping in a “big boy” bed and wearing underwear. A few years ago, a local pediatrician shared with me that he had used potty training as an incentive for his own child to move into a big bed, and honestly it makes a lot of sense. It proved to be a good motivator for our son Chris and he enjoyed a real sense of accomplishment when he made the move on his third birthday. Like any change, graduating to a bed may take a little getting used to for your child. Hopefully, the two of you won’t have too many sleepless nights. Sweet dreams. Michele Piazzoni of Folsom is a regular contributor. |
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